Fuseproject – Dezeenhttps://www.dezeen.com
architecture and design magazineFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:38:59 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Yves Béhar and MIT's Ori robotic furniture reconfigures tiny apartmentshttps://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/12/yves-behar-fuseproject-mit-media-lab-ori-robotic-furniture-system-reconfigures-tiny-apartments/
https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/12/yves-behar-fuseproject-mit-media-lab-ori-robotic-furniture-system-reconfigures-tiny-apartments/#respondTue, 12 Jul 2016 15:14:04 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=933021MIT Media Lab has partnered with designer Yves Béhar on a smart furniture system for micro apartments, which can turn the space into a bedroom or living room at the touch of a button (+ movie). The Ori system operates a compact module that incorporates a bed and a closet on one side, and a

]]>MIT Media Lab has partnered with designer Yves Béhar on a smart furniture system for micro apartments, which can turn the space into a bedroom or living room at the touch of a button (+ movie).

The Ori system operates a compact module that incorporates a bed and a closet on one side, and a home office and an entertainment suite on the other.

The full-height unit can shift forward and backwards to free up space on either side. When needed, a bed slides out from underneath the storage space, while a bench emerges from below the TV.

Researchers from MIT's CityHome project developed the actuators, electronics and software that enable the heavy furniture to glide and shape-shift, as well as connect to other smart devices.

Béhar and his San Francisco studio Fuseproject came on board to create a single furniture unit that could transform to make the most of small spaces. The final design can be ordered in custom materials, finishes and colours.

The system is designed for micro apartments with less than 300 square feet (28 square metres) of space, as rent in cities continues to rise and living spaces become more compact.

Demonstrating the issue, an illustrator built a tiny wooden bedroom for himself in a friend's living room to avoid paying San Francisco's "absurdly high" rents.

"Cities such as London, Seattle, San Francisco and almost everywhere else are seeing an influx of young professionals, yet those urban centres are more expensive and more condensed," said Béhar.

"Our goal was to find a single unit scenario that would maximise the value of a micro studio or one bedroom apartment," he added.

Located on the side of the furniture module is a pyramid-shaped control panel, which features buttons for altering the layout and lighting.

Touching its vertical edges moves the unit forward and back, while presets for bedroom, lounge or storage can be activated using icons along the bottom.

"Each room can be preset for a space, including preferred integrated lighting, so that one touch on the physical interface or on the corresponding app will morph the room," said Béhar.

"The on-device console uses manual glider buttons that make the owner feel as though they are magically moving the unit," he added.

Users can also adjust the settings with a smartphone app, so the room will be set up in their preferred layout when they get home.

"Beyond the comfort and life-enhancing varied accommodations, Ori creates financial value for renters or owners; a studio becomes a one bedroom, for example," Béhar said. "The Ori system is also valuable for developers by immediately increasing the value of the home."

Fuseproject also came up with the name of the system and company, based on the Japanese word origami meaning "to fold".

Developers will be incorporating Ori systems into homes in Boston, Washington DC and Seattle starting this summer.

]]>https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/12/yves-behar-fuseproject-mit-media-lab-ori-robotic-furniture-system-reconfigures-tiny-apartments/feed/0Yves Behar designs Nespresso-style countertop cold-press juicerhttps://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/01/juicero-machine-yves-behar-nespresso-style-countertop-cold-press-juicer/
https://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/01/juicero-machine-yves-behar-nespresso-style-countertop-cold-press-juicer/#commentsWed, 01 Jun 2016 19:32:45 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=910624Yves Behar's studio Fuseproject has partnered with San Francisco startup Juicero to design a Wi-Fi-enabled home juicer that uses pre-packaged sachets of fruit and vegetables (+ slideshow). The Juicero machine is described as "farm-to-glass", and relies on a similar system to Nespresso coffee machines – using sachets of ready-prepared produce rather than the user's own fruit and vegetables. The packets of washed

]]>Yves Behar's studio Fuseproject has partnered with San Francisco startup Juicero to design a Wi-Fi-enabled home juicer that uses pre-packaged sachets of fruit and vegetables (+ slideshow).

The Juicero machine is described as "farm-to-glass", and relies on a similar system to Nespresso coffee machines – using sachets of ready-prepared produce rather than the user's own fruit and vegetables.

The packets of washed and chopped ingredients are loaded into the front of the juicer, which features a door made from aircraft-grade aluminium and a rubber-lined storage space.

A central button is pushed to activate the machine's press, which exerts pressure equivalent to more than 3,600 kilograms to create a nutrient-rich juice.

"Juicero is the first company to make cold-pressed juice something that people can make themselves at home," Behar told Dezeen. "The challenges to design and engineer a press that can deliver 8,000 pounds of force are tremendous."

"The goal was to balance the organic with the mechanical, with the exterior aluminium door showing both its quality and structural integrity," said the designer, who has been working with Juicero for the last two years to develop the machine.

"A simple white finish complements any kitchen environment, with a pop of colour from the silicon inner lining representing the natural fresh juice subtly visible from the outside," he added.

The machine will only operate when connected to a Wi-Fi network, which it uses to scan a QR code on each packet and check online if the contents are within expiration dates. If they aren't, it will refuse to press them.

Juicero's accompanying mobile app shows health benefits of each juice and lets owners track inventory and order new packets, which cost between $6 (£4) and $10 (£7) each.

The sachets are recyclable, and according to Behar can also be returned to the company, aiming to avoid the sustainability criticisms that Nespresso has faced over its single-use coffee pods.

According to the designer, Juicero uses "ugly" organic fruit and vegetables from local Californian farms that have been rejected by stores for their appearance.

"Just as the shift from the mainframe computer to desktop PCs transformed the computing industry, Juicero will exponentially expand the cold-press juicing industry by taking the power of commercial grade cold-press machines and putting it in a device that can fit on your kitchen countertop," said the company's founder Doug Evans.

The juicer is priced $699 (£485), and starts shipping to consumers in California this summer. The company plans to make Juicero available to further areas as it partners with more farms and facilities.

]]>https://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/01/juicero-machine-yves-behar-nespresso-style-countertop-cold-press-juicer/feed/23Zolt charger by Yves Behar powers three devices at oncehttps://www.dezeen.com/2015/11/06/zolt-charger-yves-behar-fuseproject-computer-smartphone-tablet/
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/11/06/zolt-charger-yves-behar-fuseproject-computer-smartphone-tablet/#commentsFri, 06 Nov 2015 16:17:14 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=796895Yves Behar's San Francisco studio Fuseproject has designed an octagonal portable charger that can accommodate a computer, a smartphone and a tablet at the same time (+ slideshow). Called Zolt, the battery pack has three USB ports and was developed with Avogy – a Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on compact and efficient power sources.

]]>Yves Behar's San Francisco studio Fuseproject has designed an octagonal portable charger that can accommodate a computer, a smartphone and a tablet at the same time (+ slideshow).

Called Zolt, the battery pack has three USB ports and was developed with Avogy – a Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on compact and efficient power sources.

Fuseproject designed both the object and its identity, including the name, graphics and packaging.

By offsetting the octagonal outer shell with the eight-sided inner component, venting holes are created at the end to keep the battery cool. The nearly cylindrical shape also allows users to wrap cords around the pack for easy carrying during travel.

"Given the skill of the technologists building this new brand, we wanted to focus the brand attributes around this idea of expertise, boldness and innovation," said Behar. "The name, Zolt, sounds just that – electric, charged, buzzy."

The brushed casing is available in dark grey, dark purple and bright red.

"We selected a colour palette that would exemplify this as well, with bold and luminous colours like electric orange, ultraviolet and graphite," Behar added.

]]>https://www.dezeen.com/2015/11/06/zolt-charger-yves-behar-fuseproject-computer-smartphone-tablet/feed/2Yves Behar's smart security system allows users to remotely let visitors into their homeshttps://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/14/yves-behar-smart-security-system-august-lock-keyless-app-smartphone/
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/14/yves-behar-smart-security-system-august-lock-keyless-app-smartphone/#commentsWed, 14 Oct 2015 17:02:09 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=782678San Francisco designer Yves Behar's studio Fuseproject is releasing a new home access system that includes a keyless lock and video camera that are controlled by a user's smartphone (+ slideshow). Launching today and named August Home Access, the system is designed to "revolutionise the way people interact with their homes" by enabling easier access

]]>San Francisco designer Yves Behar's studio Fuseproject is releasing a new home access system that includes a keyless lock and video camera that are controlled by a user's smartphone (+ slideshow).The lock features a magnetic faceplate and new micro-patterns to improve grip and rotation

Launching today and named August Home Access, the system is designed to "revolutionise the way people interact with their homes" by enabling easier access while also improving security.

"It's a way to serve everyday users and change the way people experience the home," Behar told Dezeen. "It's where the future of technology and the home come together."

The system evolved from a cylindrical lock Behar unveiled in 2013 that replaced physical keys with a smartphone app. Both the lock and new access system were developed by Behar in collaboration with technology entrepreneur Jason Johnson.

The new August Access system consists of an updated lock, a keypad, a "doorbell" camera and a smartphone app for iOS and Android devices.

The August Smart Lock – Homekit Enabled is the modified version of the original lock. Customers can use their smartphones to lock, unlock, or check the status of their door at anytime.

Using the August app, people who aren't at home can still allow visitors to come inside. "Customers no longer need to be home to receive deliveries," said the company. "Trusted partners can securely enter the home using the August Smart Lock."

Beyond deliveries, this system is beneficial for people who use dog walkers, home healthcare workers, house cleaners, and other service providers who require home entry. "The system makes people more comfortable with third-party services," said Behar, who founded Fuseproject in 1999.

The lock, which retails for $229 (£148), features a magnetic faceplate, new micro-patterns to improve grip and rotation, and a slim chrome indicator at the top of the device, so users can visually see if the door is locked or unlocked.

The August Smart Keypad enables people to bypass using their smartphones and instead unlock the door by entering a code. Unique codes are auto-generated for one-time or regular use.

The keypad, which costs $79 (£51), is battery-operated and can be installed within 10 minutes. "The device is slim and discreet, so it can be easily placed near the entryway or hidden away," said the company.

The August Access system keypad

The August Doorbell Cam enables homeowners to see and speak with visitors at the door, in addition to buzzing them in, by using the company's smartphone app. They also are notified when motion is detected.

"The Wi-Fi camera is like having FaceTime at your door," said Behar.

The Doorbell Cam consists of a one-way, 140-degree high-definition video camera and a two-way audio system. Intelligent motion detection captures images of visitors even if they don't ring the doorbell.

The system is Bluetooth lower energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi enabled. It can be self-installed and replaces existing doorbells with the same wiring. The cost is $199 (£129).

The August Access system consists of a smartphone app for iOS and Android devices

"Smart home technology today is rapidly on its way to mainstream," said Johnson. "However, there are still many challenges that customers and service providers face when it comes to simple, secure home access."

With the August Access system, his company is "solving the problem of bringing trusted services into the home in a secure and convenient way."

The August Access doorbell cam enables homeowners to see and speak with visitors at the door

Architect Rem Koolhaas has spoken out against the way technology is infiltrating buildings, saying it is "totally astonishing" that people are willing to sacrifice their privacy for convenience and describing the rise of smart systems as "potentially sinister".

]]>https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/14/yves-behar-smart-security-system-august-lock-keyless-app-smartphone/feed/2Yves Behar debuts cube-shaped set-top box for Canal+https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/06/yves-behar-cube-shaped-set-top-box-canal-tv-fuseproject/
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/06/yves-behar-cube-shaped-set-top-box-canal-tv-fuseproject/#commentsThu, 06 Aug 2015 14:50:56 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=747810Yves Behar's San Francisco studio Fuseproject has redesigned the set-top box, creating a matt black cube for French TV network Canal+ (+ movie). Fuseproject's Le Cube S is a minimal take on the common household device that turns television signals into content that can be displayed on a screen. Instead of a standard rectangular case, the

Fuseproject's Le Cube S is a minimal take on the common household device that turns television signals into content that can be displayed on a screen.

Instead of a standard rectangular case, the studio designed a cube that has limited buttons and incorporates a screen into one of its faces.

Its four controls are located in the centre of textured quadrants on the top of the box.

Disguised on one of the sides, the full-colour 320- by 240-pixel screen can show channel logos and notifications rather than just numbers when the device is powered on.

"In order to maximise aesthetic discretion and fit in the home, we kept the cube a matt black, and made the display invisibly integrated into its surface," said the studio led by Swiss designer Behar, which launched a curved TV mounted on a cube-shaped pedestal earlier this year.

"Its surface hides discreetly behind the matt black colouring of the device itself, seamlessly disappearing when not in use."

The company has worked with Canal+ for eight years, creating a range of set-top boxes including the Le Cube device. The new Le Cube S design is the smallest iteration in the series to date, measuring eight centimetres cubed so it can be held in one hand.

"As technology advances, we are able to consistently bring new innovations to the set-top box, re-imagining its form while still maintaining existing brand equity," said Fuseproject, which was acquired by a Chinese brand management conglomerate last year.